Valve cap



Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES `PA'IENT oFFlce LOUIS F. GI'IS, orCHICAGO, ILLINOIS,- ASSIGNCR, BY Dinner AND MnsN'n ASSIGN- MENTS, ToJULES I. GITS, or' CHICAGO, 'ILLINOIS VALVE CAP Application filed April11,

This invention relates to a certain nevv an-d useful improvement invalves and more particularly to an improved form of cap providing anair-tight tit to prevent loss of air.

Although it is apparent that this invention is particularly adaptable toa type of valve associated with the pneumatic inner tube of anautomobile tire, it will be noticed that the invention is not to belimited to this use 1Q solely but may also be adapted to other variousanalogous and nonanalogous uses.

It has been found that caps heretofore provided to cover the open end ofthe usual air valves of pneumatic tires did not maintain 15 an air-tightrelation With the casing on which they Were threaded or otherwisesecured.

Gaskets of rubber or like yieldable material have been used Within thecap to engage the casing, but Such gaskets Would soon rot or 2odeteriorate to the extent of losing the airtight lit. As a result, afterthe caps had been threaded into the valve Casings a number of times,they would be useless as air-tight closures, and their replacement wouldbe essential if such air-tight tit Were to be maintained by the owner ofthe vehicle.

rlthe primary object of my invention re-h sides in the provision of animproved form of means of maintaining` an air-tight lit between the capand casing, and, to embody such means in the cap, so that the tighterthe cap is drawn, irrespective of the number of times it is used, themore secure the joint is made against any possible leakage of air.

More particularly the invention relates to lthe provision of a metallicinsert in the cap, which serves the purpose of a gasket, and which isprovided with a relatively sharp edge adapted to engage or bite into theupper is threaded into position, an air-tight tit Will be provided.

A further object of my invention is to provide the aforesaid metallicinsert, which acts i? as a gasket, of harder material than that of thevalve casing so that the edge thereof may continually bite into theupper edge of the casing as the cap is threaded into positiona tomaintain a self-Worn seat and thereby provide a relatively permanentair-tight lit.

edge of the valve casing, whereby, as the capV `1928. rSerial No.269,088.

In order to apprise those skilled in the art how to construct an-dpractice my invention, I shall noiv describe the preferred embodimentsthereof in connection vvith the accomL aanying drawings,rin WhichaFigure l is a vertical sectional view of a tire casing provided With acap, partly in elevation, Which embodies my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational vievv of the device with the cap in remo-vedposition to illusf trate the self-forming Seat at the tip of the casing;and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the insert to illustrate the aforesaidrelatively sharp edge.

It Will be understood that my invention is capable of embodiment in manyforms or types of valves an-d consequently I do not desire to be limitedto the type of valve Shown in the drawing Which is commonly used inconnection with pneumatic inner tubes of automobile tires. Referringmore in detail to the accompanying drawing, it Will be observed that thevalve casing l is threaded in the usual manner along the lo-Wer portionand isreduced in diameter at the end 2, which is also threaded for thepurpose of receiving an internally threaded cap 3. The particular formof cap is not of the essence of this invention as long as it is adaptedto receive an insert 4 acting in the nature of a gasket for providing anair-tight fit between the valve casing and cap 3.

It will be observed that insert 4 is preferablyprovided in the form of aAdisc having an annular sharp edge 5. Upper face 6 f.

of insert 4 is preferably flat so as to readily cooperate With the innerface 7 of cap 3. I find that it is easier to adapt insert 4 Within cap 3if face 6 is made liat.

One of the purposes of this invention is to provide insert 4, acting asa gasket, of harder material, such as steel, than the material of valvecasing 1. Valve casing l is usually made of brass or Some like softmaterial, and

consequently., sharp edge 5 is adapted to form 9 a self-forming seatB inthe upper face 9 of neck 2. I lind that it is not necessary, although itmay be desirable, to originally provide a groove 8 in the upper end ofneck 2, inasmuch as the cap When threaded tightly in position willpermit this sharp angular edge 5 to wear or form in a self-acting mannerthis groove 8, whereby the cooperation of the sharp edge and the grooveresults in maintaining a preferably tight fit, preventing the escape ofair from the upper end of valve casing 1.

It will be understood that insert 4, shown herein as the gasket of cap3, needl not have any particular shape in order to embody the principlesof this invention. 'Ihe invention relates mainly to the pro vision of asharp edge on the gasket which is of harder material or metal than thatof the valve casing so that this sharp edge may maintain a self-formingseat to prevent the escape of air. The metal may be made of anydesirable material as long as a relation exists between the material ofthe casing and the gasket whereby one may be harder than the other. Iind, however, that it is desirable to provide insert 4 or the gasket ofhardened steel so that the slarp edge 5 may have a relatively longer lie.

If so desired, a diametrical slot l0 may be formed in the upper part ofthe cap so as to receive a sharp tool or edge, such as a coin mayprovide, for the purpose of threading cap 8 in position. The pressureapplied to the cap will cause the sharp edge to bite into edge 9 ofvalve casing l and provide this self-forming seat 8 which, as I havestated, results in an air-tight lit and the prevention of the loss ofair, which may escape past the valve in casing I. I have found that withthis air-tight fit, such as I have described, the usual evil of aleaking valve is wholly overcome inasmuch as it is impossible for air toescape past the edge 5 engaging in seat 8. rIhe particular form ormanner of attaching cap 3 to valve casing may be varied or changedaccording to the type of valve used.

Vithout further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain thegist of my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service,without eliminating certain features, which may properly be said toconstitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items areintended to be defined and secured to me by the following claim.

I claim:

A valve-casing cap provided with a cham ber and a metallic gasketdisposed within said chamber, said gasket being'of harder metal than themetal of the valve-Casing, and having a substantially annular andrelatively sharp edge adapted to bite into the valve-casing and providea self-forming seat therefor.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LOUIS F. GITS.

